Veterans

Psychology

An introduction to selected concepts, methods, and vocabulary of psychology. Focus of study will be on the individual and the conditions that influence behavior. Topics that will be covered include: growth and development, learning and thinking, emotions and motivations, personality and assessment, mal-adjustment and mental health, groups and social interaction, and social influence and society.

This course covers descriptive and inferential statistics, frequency distributions, percentile rank, measure of central tendency and variability, correlation and regression and tests of significance. Using computer software, students will directly apply these statistics to specific problems common to the behavioral sciences.

Prerequisite Course(s): MATH-115 or MATH-125 or MATH-140 or MATH-141 or MATH-160 or MATH-161 or MATH-170 or MATH-180 or TMAT-135 or TMAT-155

The study of human growth and development. This course is designed to give the student an understanding of children and how they change while passing through the major phases of growth. Emphasis is placed on physical, emotional, and Special topics include: identification of conditions in personality development with an aim toward understanding the period of human growth on which adulthood is founded. Special topics include: identification of conditions in childhood leading to normal psychological development.

The study of human growth and development. This course is designed to give the student an understanding of children and adolescents and how they change while passing through understanding the period of human growth on which the major phases of growth. Emphasis is placed on physical, emotional, and personality development with an aim toward understanding the period of human growth on which adulthood is founded.

An introduction to the study of that portion of human development called adolescence. Some of the topics treated: significance of puberty, biological and social sex roles, adolescent image, the emergence of new figures such as practices and their replacement with new behavioral peers and idols, society at large as agents of socialization in place of parents and family, the extinction of old habits and practices and their replacement with new behavioral patterns. Theoretical consideration will be supplemented with observational experience.

The study of human aging and changes during adulthood. This course is designed to give the student an understanding of early, middle, and later adulthood. Topics include physical changes, social-life changes, identity and interpersonal behavior, family life, and retirement, as well as the pathologies of old age.

The communication process is basic to all interaction, cutting across all other areas of managerial knowledge and skill. In-depth training in the concepts and skills needed for effective oral and written communication between individuals and in examined, and attention is given to the impact of language on groups. Interpersonal effectiveness in listening, responding and presenting. Models of effective communication are examined, and attention is given to the impact of language on behavior, particularly on personal decision making.

An investigation of the behavioral science disciplines as they affect marketing decisions. Consideration of such fields as psychology, sociology, and anthropology as the bases for studying consumer motivation and behavior.

Learning theory is a fundamental science course. The student is asked to trace the emergence of modern cognitive learning theory (neo-behaviorism) from the original works of Pavlov, Thorndike, and Watson through the blackbox Skinnerian school of thought. The course emphasizes theoretical rather than methodological issues and, as such, is designed to give the student a firm grasp of the conditions under which permanent behavior change occurs.

A study of man's relationship to the physical environment. Topics include the effects of architecture on behavior, design in selective environments, social uses of space, urban and environmental stressors, encouraging ecological behaviors.

The construction, validation, and interpretation of test results. Group and individual tests of aptitude, intelligence, and personality are analyzed. Each student will develop and administer a measure for a specific diagnostic or research purpose.

An analysis of the structures and properties of human groups. Topics include: group formation, development of role relationships, intra-group and inter-group conflict, factors influencing group effectiveness, the role of motivation, and attitudes in group processes.

A study of the impact of organizational structure, leadership and group dynamics on role-related behaviors, on personal feelings of motivation and commitment, and communication within the organization. The course stresses theories of work motivation and job satisfaction and linkage of these factors with worker performance. A major focus of organizational psychology concerns the means by which organizations, supervisory and work-group factors can facilitate or interfere with the individual worker's feelings and behaviors on the job.

A study of mental health and abnormal behavior. The topics covered include: definitions of mental health and mental illness; problems of adjustment; the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. Case studies supplement and illustrate the theoretical parts of the course material.

The examination of communication from various standpoints, as illustrated by different types of interviews. Interviewing techniques employed for personnel selection are compared with those used in interrogation and those used for the therapeutic purposes. Practice in interviewing.

Although the course will be largely focused on technical sales, large segments of the course will have applicability to general sales skills. Major topics will be: developing new customers (which includes making approach calls and demonstrating equipment); preparing and presenting proposals (both written and verbal); delivering and installing equipment (taking into consideration physical space and training of the customer personnel who will operate this equipment); satisfying existing customers. Individual sales skills will be stressed, as opposed to the larger scale marketing tactics of a marketing division.

Examines the important role of individual differences in selecting and placing employees, in appraising the level of employee's work performance and in training recently hired and veteran employees to improve various aspects of job-related behavior. Emphasis is placed on job analysis, measurement of performance and methods used in selection, i.e., tests and interviews. Special attention to the legal issues involving fairness in selection of employees.

The broad range of activities of psychologists and counselors in community settings will be examined. An intensive study will be made of between 20 and 25 special areas of community involvement, including hospitals, rehabilitation services, halfway houses and outreach clinics, crisis intervention centers, and correctional institutions. Emphasis is on the prevention, recognition, and remediation of problems, including field experience. The social, professional, and personal rationales for community psychology as a separate academic and professional entity will be considered.

An analysis of the current status of the community mental health movement that attempts to define and anticipate future trends. Topics include health and social environment, preventive health education, type and quality of community mental health services, organizational complexities, manpower, consumer attributes, consumer participation, and impact on other mental health organizations.

Improvement of interpersonal skills needed in managing people. The nature of small groups, group formation and development, group composition and structure, the nature of group goals, leadership in groups. Application of the concepts of small group functioning to improving the individual's ability to accurately perceive and diagnose problems, compare interpersonal problems and adjust personal behavior to situational demands.

This course stresses the classical approach to experimental research on human behavior. Students conduct and report on experiments in the fields of psychophysics, psychomotor learning, memory, and perception. These laboratory experiments permit the student to apply knowledge gained in former courses about measurements, statistical inference, and the design of experiments.

A basic course to familiarize students with the bodily processes involved in various aspects of human behavior. Physiological psychology studies the biological basis of psychological functions such as sleeping, emotions, motivations, perceptions, learning, memory, and problem solving. The two major biological systems most relevant to psychology are the nervous system and the glandular system.

Review of contemporary theories, practices, and research in rehabilitation of the emotionally, mentally, and physically disabled. Selected topics will include various addictions, mental retardation, learning disabilities, emotional disorders, and physical incapacities.

Theories and practical techniques of counseling, including advisement, guidance, and supportive psychotherapy, by both directive and non-directive methods. Counseling is considered both as a career in itself and as a component of one's job in such fields as teaching, business and personnel management, health occupations, social work, and the law.

Students may enroll for up to a maximum of 8 credits, but are not permitted to repeat a seminar on the same topic. Topics studied will vary from semester to semester, but include: alienation, generation gap, drugs, sexual revolution, interpersonal dynamics, self-actualization, social commitment, individual freedom, religion, human encounter.

The content focus of this seminar will change in a sequential manner from semester to semester and will cover the areas of history and systems of psychology, emotions and motivations, and sensation and perception. Students may elect to take up to six credits, but may not repeat a seminar on the same topic. Suggested for students who are planning to go on to graduate school.

Workshop is designed to broaden the educational experience of students through appropriate applied and experiential learning coupled with academic instruction. Workshop focus will vary from semester to semester, covering such areas as interpersonal communication, group dynamics, and biofeedback. Students may re-enroll up to a maximum of 12 credits, but are not permitted to repeat workshops on the same topic.